On CDC estimates, Gray is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns
Gray differs from Tennessee on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gray. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gray
Cancer runs high in Gray
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.7%), vs 8.2% across Tennessee. Conditions ↓
Fewer Gray adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Tennessee. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Tennessee figure falls outside Gray’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Gray’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gray is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 68% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Gray’s median household income is $69,947; among the 10,529 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 60%, about where its income would put it.
Where Gray compares well: worried about having enough food, 10.3% (U.S. 15%); worried about keeping housing, 8.9% (U.S. 12%); threatened with a utility shut-off, 6.4% (U.S. 7.6%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.5% of Gray adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Out of every 100 Gray adults…
Gray runs above TN on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gray
No hospital or community health center in Gray itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Gray; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gray adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
How Gray adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Gray does better than Tennessee.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Gray and the towns around it
Gray’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray | B− | 35.1% | 11.8% | 16% | CDC place |
| Johnson City | C | 36.2% | 12.7% | 17.4% | CDC place |
| Spurgeon | B− | 34.4% | 11.7% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gray adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gray
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gray is better than Tennessee on 8 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Gray’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gray | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%15.9–22.7 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.5–16.9 | 14.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.4–21.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%29.3–41.4 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.1–13.8 | 13.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.2%32.3–40.3 | 39.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.7–41.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%29–35.9 | 30.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.6–7.4 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%6.6–9.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.9–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.2%10.7–15.8 | 14.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%12.7–19.7 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.9%18.6–27.6 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.1–18.8 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.4%30.2–41 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%6.6–11.4 | 11.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%75.1–81.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.3%61.8–68.5 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.7%86.7–90.6 | 86.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%73.7–79.7 | 76.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%62.2–71 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%68.1–82 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.4%27.5–35.6 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.7–26.2 | 27.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 13.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 9.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%7.4–9.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34%29.3–39 | 35.8% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.7%12.2–17.4 | 16.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.3–18.5 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.4–8.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.7–5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7–9.8 | 9.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.8–4 | 4.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Tennessee figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Gray
Is Gray a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gray is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 60%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gray?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.3% and 41.4%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gray?
Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Johnson City, 6.9 miles in a straight line from Gray’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gray have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–11.4%), against 11.6% across Tennessee.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Gray more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gray.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.